Top Ten Tips to Support Yourself Through a Layoff

Layoffs are tough. They can make you feel like you've lost your sense of direction, purpose, and identity. They can also affect your mental and physical health, your relationships, and your finances. But you don't have to let a layoff define you or derail you from your goals. I would know. I just got laid off too but am making the most of it and sharing resources to help others. Here are some tips to help you cope and bounce back from a layoff.

1. Take time to recover physically and emotionally.

Losing your job can be a traumatic experience that triggers a range of emotions, such as shock, anger, sadness, fear, and guilt. It's normal and healthy to acknowledge and process these feelings, rather than suppress or deny them. You may also experience physical symptoms of stress, such as headaches, insomnia, fatigue, or low immunity. To take care of yourself, make sure you get enough sleep, eat well, exercise regularly, and avoid alcohol and drugs. You may also want to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor if you feel overwhelmed or depressed.

2. Create a routine that aligns with the things you want to do.

One of the challenges of being laid off is losing the structure and stability that your job provided. Without a clear schedule or plan, you may feel lost, bored, or unmotivated. To regain a sense of control and direction, create a routine that suits your needs and preferences. For example, you may want to set a regular time to wake up, eat, exercise, job search, network, learn new skills, pursue hobbies, or volunteer. Having a routine can help you stay focused, productive, and positive.

3. Build a support network or share your feelings in a journal.

Going through a layoff can be isolating and lonely. You may feel like no one understands what you're going through or that you have to deal with everything on your own. But you don't have to face this challenge alone. Reach out to people who care about you and who can offer emotional support, practical advice, or referrals. This could be your family, friends, former colleagues, mentors, coaches, or support groups. You can also express your thoughts and feelings in a journal or a blog. Writing can help you clarify your situation, release negative emotions, and find new perspectives.

4. Ask for help and network for opportunities.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness or failure. It's a sign of strength and courage. You may need help with various aspects of your layoff recovery, such as finding health insurance options, applying for unemployment benefits, updating your resume or LinkedIn profile, preparing for interviews, or negotiating salary offers. Don't be afraid to ask for help from people who have the expertise or experience that you need. You may also want to network with people who can connect you with potential employers or opportunities. Networking can be done online or offline through platforms like LinkedIn or Meetup.com.

5. Don't let fear be your motivator for next steps.

Fear is a natural response to uncertainty and change. It can make you feel anxious about the future and tempted to settle for less than what you deserve or want. But fear can also hold you back from exploring new possibilities and taking risks that could lead to better outcomes. Instead of letting fear be your motivator for next steps, let curiosity be your guide. Curiosity can help you discover new interests, skills, passions, or careers that you may not have considered before. Curiosity can also help you overcome self-doubt and learn from feedback and failure.

6. Check your perspective around the fact that while layoffs suck, the economy will eventually turn and new opportunities will come up even if there have to be interim options.

Layoffs suck! There's no denying that. They can make you feel like you've been rejected, betrayed, or abandoned by your employer. They can also make you feel hopeless about the economy and the job market. But layoffs are not personal. They are not a reflection of your worth, your abilities, or your potential. They are often the result of external factors that are beyond your control, such as market trends, technological changes, or organizational restructuring. And while the economy may be in a downturn right now, it will eventually recover and new opportunities will emerge even if there have to be interim options. Interim options could be temporary, part-time, contract, or freelance work that can help you pay the bills, gain new skills, expand your network, or explore new fields. Interim options could also be opportunities to pursue further education, training, or certification that can enhance your qualifications and marketability.

7. Reflect on how much you have grown from the previous experience and how you are now capable of even more.

Layoffs are not the end of your career. They are an opportunity to start a new chapter in your professional journey. Instead of dwelling on what you have lost, focus on what you have gained from your previous experience. Think about how much you have learned, grown, and contributed in your previous role. Think about the skills, knowledge, and achievements that you can showcase in your resume, portfolio, or interviews. Think about the strengths, values, and passions that drive you and guide you in your career choices. You are not the same person you were when you started your previous job. You are now capable of even more.

8. Remember that you are so much more than your title or company allegiance and your worth is in no way lowered by the impersonal layoff decisions.

Your job is not who you are. It's what you do. Your title or company allegiance is not what defines you. It's what describes you. Your worth is not determined by your employment status. It's determined by your character, your integrity, your kindness, and your humanity. You are so much more than your job. You are a unique and valuable person with many roles and identities beyond your work. You are a family member, a friend, a neighbor, a citizen, a volunteer, a learner, a creator, a leader, a follower, a dreamer, a doer. You are so much more than your job. And no layoff decision can take that away from you.

9. Find the healing power of helping others.

Helping others can help yourself. Research has shown that helping others can boost your mood, self-esteem, happiness, and well-being. It can also reduce stress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Helping others can take many forms, such as volunteering for a cause that matters to you, mentoring someone who needs guidance or support, donating money or goods to those in need, or simply offering a listening ear or a helping hand to someone who is struggling. Helping others can also benefit your career prospects by expanding your network, showcasing your skills, and demonstrating your values. Helping others can help yourself heal from a layoff by giving you a sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.

10. Offer your experience to the world by showcasing your skills and ways to help others.

One of the best ways to find new opportunities after a layoff is to offer your experience to the world by showcasing your skills and ways to help others. This means creating an online presence that highlights who you are, what you do, and how you add value. This could include updating your LinkedIn profile, creating a personal website, blogging about topics related to your field, sharing relevant content on social media, or creating an online portfolio of projects, samples, or testimonials. By offering your experience to the world, you can attract attention, interest, and trust from potential employers, clients, or collaborators who are looking for someone like you.

Thank you for reading! I hope these insights were helpful and would love to hear your own tips. Share your own experiences and let's support each other through this journey. Reshare this resource to help others and subscribe to stay connected with my post-layoff adventures journey. Together, we can thrive!